My first time out was filled with excitment.First off don't use a 12 pound thrust or a 20 pound thrust trallin motor to get out of the dock it dosen't work and you feel realy stupid when the wind is moving you sideways across the dock when you are suppose to go foward almost taking out another boat in the prosses. So I tied up the boat to shoure and drove to the nearest academy sporting goods and bought a 5 Hp and got out in the lake (Lake Pointatrain to be exact). Than newbe mistake #6 I didn't put the gib or the main on till after I anckered out witch I should have done at the dock . Than the wind and current was so strong I coulden't get the ancor undone.For some reason I coulden't get the boat to face into the wind O I see the problem the anckor road has raped it self around the keel how the hell did that happen O thats right I don't know what I am doing. Finely got the anckor loose and things where fine with just the main up. So we cruised around for a little while then I turned well tried to turn I got faced into the wind and she staled . ok lets try this again ,staled, darn. lets try it the other way, Nailed it made a great turn. Than the wind kicked up and the boat started heeling felt like I was going over o ya im supose to be on the other side of the cockpit. Mutch better. Ok Dave hold the tiller Im going to put up the gib. Dave is a friend of mine that came along for the ride . didn't know how to sail either. Any whay Hold the tiller Dave . I went to the bow with the gib and started to set it up, The wind desided to blow a little harder and the boat heeled a little more no worries she's holding. don't ask me what I was about to do when I started walking down the side of the boat that was closesed to the water but she started to to go over and I droped every thing and ran to the other side, f@$# there gose the slide top in the drink get it Dave I mist catching it buy about 2 feet It foats just inches past Daves hand. As we watched it sink. Just than I thought, mabe I should have sprung for the hole bottel of wine to pour on her bow insted of the margarita wine cooler. Got the boat standing strait and desided to just cruise around for a little more with just the maine. oK Dave its time to go in, got close to the launch droped the sail and cranked the motor every thing is fine, moved slowly to the dock got half way to the dock and the boat stoped ,what the heck I know we didn't run a ground we are in the middle of two boues. Dave I think I got it could you crank the keel up. Yep that works. puted to the dock made the turn to go into the slip darn mist the pear, we going in backwards give it a little gas and make another pass,watch out for the rocks, wow I didn't hit any thing.loaded the boat up and went home. I hope you laghed reading this and mabe you could share your first sail. and o ya if you know any one with a slide for a Mac 25 poptop drop me a line . Eventhough my firt time wasn't smoothe I will be out again and I will do things a hole lot different.
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That was funny…..
Hmmmm, how many things can go wrong in a day? A complete lack of experience led the author to a very steep learning curve for sure. Nobody died or got pregnant, and god bless em’ for catching onto his mistakes instead of blaming the boat. If he survives a little longer, he’ll make a sailor! So, my first sail was nothing like that. Everybody had lots to moderate experience….but me. Anyhow, in the early 80’s a guy I played darts with told me his uncle was coming up here on a 29 foot something-or-other boat to collect him & his dad for a week’s fishing and drinking. Evidently, this other guy had backed out on them, and he asked if I’d mind coming a long. I of course said “Sure! How much do I need to throw in for gas & food?” (BYOB is a traditional rule, eh) So, he tells me “Uhhh……don’t worry about the gas, Uncle’s got it covered” I questioned him on that and he got kind’a cagey on me…… So readers, I ask you to think back to the days when you knew NOTHING about sailing boats. I show up at the dock on the appointed morning and …… theres one of them there sailboat things! Well, it looked kind’a like a canoe that had an altercation with a camper and a telephone pole …. And nobody won the fight. There was rope all over the place, coils of it hanging, lengths dangling all over, and all kinds of wire holding up the pole. Things that looked sort of like beer cans bolted (or glued?) in weird places. The 3 guys I’m about to trust with my life babbled about the ropes for several minutes, and NOBODY EVER said the word “rope” …. not even once!! Well, I could go about that first day from the perspective of a newbie, but let’s say I’ve been hooked ever since….. Later, eh! Ferg
Hmmmm, how many things can go wrong in a day? A complete lack of experience led the author to a very steep learning curve for sure. Nobody died or got pregnant, and god bless em’ for catching onto his mistakes instead of blaming the boat. If he survives a little longer, he’ll make a sailor! So, my first sail was nothing like that. Everybody had lots to moderate experience….but me. Anyhow, in the early 80’s a guy I played darts with told me his uncle was coming up here on a 29 foot something-or-other boat to collect him & his dad for a week’s fishing and drinking. Evidently, this other guy had backed out on them, and he asked if I’d mind coming a long. I of course said “Sure! How much do I need to throw in for gas & food?” (BYOB is a traditional rule, eh) So, he tells me “Uhhh……don’t worry about the gas, Uncle’s got it covered” I questioned him on that and he got kind’a cagey on me…… So readers, I ask you to think back to the days when you knew NOTHING about sailing boats. I show up at the dock on the appointed morning and …… theres one of them there sailboat things! Well, it looked kind’a like a canoe that had an altercation with a camper and a telephone pole …. And nobody won the fight. There was rope all over the place, coils of it hanging, lengths dangling all over, and all kinds of wire holding up the pole. Things that looked sort of like beer cans bolted (or glued?) in weird places. The 3 guys I’m about to trust with my life babbled about the ropes for several minutes, and NOBODY EVER said the word “rope” …. not even once!! Well, I could go about that first day from the perspective of a newbie, but let’s say I’ve been hooked ever since….. Later, eh! Ferg
First sails on a sailboat and embarressment
Lets see. It takes experience to make it happen but it takes strength to make it through the next challenge. You learn by doing and by failing. Lake Pontchartrain is pretty shallow and can kick up the sea a bit in a wind so you have got to be ready for that. Each time out on the water is a different experience; no day is just like the last. You need to learn from your experiences so please continue to have them and continue posting them here. I have had many embarrassing moments but I cant tell you about all of them at this moment. Some of my more embarrassing comments may be in the archives. Keep it cool 'Little Wing' you will enjoy each experience down near NOLA.
Lets see. It takes experience to make it happen but it takes strength to make it through the next challenge. You learn by doing and by failing. Lake Pontchartrain is pretty shallow and can kick up the sea a bit in a wind so you have got to be ready for that. Each time out on the water is a different experience; no day is just like the last. You need to learn from your experiences so please continue to have them and continue posting them here. I have had many embarrassing moments but I cant tell you about all of them at this moment. Some of my more embarrassing comments may be in the archives. Keep it cool 'Little Wing' you will enjoy each experience down near NOLA.
First Sail of the Season
Went out Saturday for the first sail of the season. Wind was squirley but all in all had a good sail. Had the admiral, my nephew who is a good power boater and his two kids onboard. Alls well until we get back to the dock and start backing the boat in. What a cluster!! If the boat in the slip beside me had been there there would've been a sinking, I was all over the place, thought I'd never get it in the slip. Hit a piling and broke off the port running light which with all that went on was a small price to pay. Fortunately nobody on the dock watching or my pride would've been hurt a lot more. As it is I've decided to go down this week and do some docking practice to get my skills back up. Backing a 35 foot sailboat isn't like riding a bicycle!
Went out Saturday for the first sail of the season. Wind was squirley but all in all had a good sail. Had the admiral, my nephew who is a good power boater and his two kids onboard. Alls well until we get back to the dock and start backing the boat in. What a cluster!! If the boat in the slip beside me had been there there would've been a sinking, I was all over the place, thought I'd never get it in the slip. Hit a piling and broke off the port running light which with all that went on was a small price to pay. Fortunately nobody on the dock watching or my pride would've been hurt a lot more. As it is I've decided to go down this week and do some docking practice to get my skills back up. Backing a 35 foot sailboat isn't like riding a bicycle!
Not my first sail, but it is still funny...
Not my first sail, but it is still funny now that time has passed. It was nearing the end of my first season and I had not had a lot of opportunity to be on the water. I was pretty desperate to get in at least one good sail before the time to pull the boat out. The weather for the day called for winds of 15 knots with a very slight chance of rain and high near 80. I arrived at the marina with my wife (Kim) in tow. She was still not real keen on the whole sailing thing and spent a lot of time saying things like, “Why didn’t you just buy a fishing boat?” We loosed the boat from the dock, and started to back out of the marina and promptly hit the rock wall on the other side. Once outside the marina and into the lake I had Kim take the tiller while I went forward to hoist the sails. We pointed the boat into the wind and I started raising the sails. The wind is whipping around quite strong now (I would later find out that the actual wind speed that day was more 26 knots gusting to 30) and the temp has dropped into the low 70’s. As soon as I get the main up my little Hunter 23 spins on her keel and starts heading down the lake with me grasping for anything I can find to hold onto, and my wife, mouth agape, is looking to me for guidance. Meanwhile I notice the motor is still running is making a LOT of noise. Keeping my calm I walk back to the stern and see the little outboard’s prop sticking out of the water and running as hard as it can! I shut the engine down and jerk it the rest of the way out of the water. The boat finally settles down into a nice rhythm considering the wind speed. The temperature is now about 65. Kim is starting to complain about the how cold it is, but of course we don’t have any jackets onboard. We sail a couple of miles down the lake and in my infinite sailing wisdom I decide I don’t like the shape of the sail. I ask Kim to take the helm again and point the boat into the wind…all 30+ knots of it. RIP! A huge tear appears along one of the batons. Kim gives me the “Damn, You’re stupid” look that only a wife can give to a husband. I’m sure most of you know the look. Now, assessing my situation: 30+ knots of wind, 3 miles from the marina, ripped main, and oh, did I mention the little rain squall that decided to move over us just at this moment? So now we soaked and cold. I decided the best thing to do was lower the main and motor back to the marina. So I go back to the little outboard and reach down for the control arm…which is not there! Where once there had been a nice control arm there is nothing but a little metal wire. It seems that somewhere along the line my motor slammed into the stern and broke off the control arm which promptly sank. Lovely. So I test the wire and if I pull it the throttle will engage. I start the engine and lean way out off the stern to reach the little wire…which I have to hold all the time or the engine will die. I turn the boat back toward the marina which of course lies almost directly to windward. We start up the lake with the bow pounding into each wave and showering us with cold water. Trying to put the best face on the situation I point out to my wife the huge barge that is coming up the lake behind us. They can be oddly pretty when they are a few miles behind you. I notice that he is directly behind me and gaining, but I should be able to make the marina a long time before he catches us. Then the engine dies. I try to start it but it won’t start. I am out of gas. The wind is pushing us toward the bank and the one lone fisherman who is working the bank near us. I dig into the storage and find the gas can and standing with one foot on the stern manage to fill the little tank. We are now within 10 feet of the bank and the barge passes us making the huge waves monstrous. The boat (now broadside to the waves) bobs like a bucking bronco and scares the hell out of Kim. After a few cranks the engine starts and we motor on toward the marina. Thankfully we made it to the marina without further problems and there were several people on the docks to help us get the boat into the slip. Once the boat was tied up, I stepped back down into the cockpit next to Kim. We sat there for a couple of minutes, shivering and wet, in silence and then she looked at me and said: “Of course you know, you’re selling this boat.”
Not my first sail, but it is still funny now that time has passed. It was nearing the end of my first season and I had not had a lot of opportunity to be on the water. I was pretty desperate to get in at least one good sail before the time to pull the boat out. The weather for the day called for winds of 15 knots with a very slight chance of rain and high near 80. I arrived at the marina with my wife (Kim) in tow. She was still not real keen on the whole sailing thing and spent a lot of time saying things like, “Why didn’t you just buy a fishing boat?” We loosed the boat from the dock, and started to back out of the marina and promptly hit the rock wall on the other side. Once outside the marina and into the lake I had Kim take the tiller while I went forward to hoist the sails. We pointed the boat into the wind and I started raising the sails. The wind is whipping around quite strong now (I would later find out that the actual wind speed that day was more 26 knots gusting to 30) and the temp has dropped into the low 70’s. As soon as I get the main up my little Hunter 23 spins on her keel and starts heading down the lake with me grasping for anything I can find to hold onto, and my wife, mouth agape, is looking to me for guidance. Meanwhile I notice the motor is still running is making a LOT of noise. Keeping my calm I walk back to the stern and see the little outboard’s prop sticking out of the water and running as hard as it can! I shut the engine down and jerk it the rest of the way out of the water. The boat finally settles down into a nice rhythm considering the wind speed. The temperature is now about 65. Kim is starting to complain about the how cold it is, but of course we don’t have any jackets onboard. We sail a couple of miles down the lake and in my infinite sailing wisdom I decide I don’t like the shape of the sail. I ask Kim to take the helm again and point the boat into the wind…all 30+ knots of it. RIP! A huge tear appears along one of the batons. Kim gives me the “Damn, You’re stupid” look that only a wife can give to a husband. I’m sure most of you know the look. Now, assessing my situation: 30+ knots of wind, 3 miles from the marina, ripped main, and oh, did I mention the little rain squall that decided to move over us just at this moment? So now we soaked and cold. I decided the best thing to do was lower the main and motor back to the marina. So I go back to the little outboard and reach down for the control arm…which is not there! Where once there had been a nice control arm there is nothing but a little metal wire. It seems that somewhere along the line my motor slammed into the stern and broke off the control arm which promptly sank. Lovely. So I test the wire and if I pull it the throttle will engage. I start the engine and lean way out off the stern to reach the little wire…which I have to hold all the time or the engine will die. I turn the boat back toward the marina which of course lies almost directly to windward. We start up the lake with the bow pounding into each wave and showering us with cold water. Trying to put the best face on the situation I point out to my wife the huge barge that is coming up the lake behind us. They can be oddly pretty when they are a few miles behind you. I notice that he is directly behind me and gaining, but I should be able to make the marina a long time before he catches us. Then the engine dies. I try to start it but it won’t start. I am out of gas. The wind is pushing us toward the bank and the one lone fisherman who is working the bank near us. I dig into the storage and find the gas can and standing with one foot on the stern manage to fill the little tank. We are now within 10 feet of the bank and the barge passes us making the huge waves monstrous. The boat (now broadside to the waves) bobs like a bucking bronco and scares the hell out of Kim. After a few cranks the engine starts and we motor on toward the marina. Thankfully we made it to the marina without further problems and there were several people on the docks to help us get the boat into the slip. Once the boat was tied up, I stepped back down into the cockpit next to Kim. We sat there for a couple of minutes, shivering and wet, in silence and then she looked at me and said: “Of course you know, you’re selling this boat.”
Something to remember
Well Jacques, You'll always remember your first sail and eventually your first and last sail of each season will be equally memorable if less eventful. My first sail (not counting my little snark) was also pretty interesting. On my first try with an O'day - like 17footer, I asked a more experienced sailor to help me rig the lines etc. It was relatively windy but nothing I would have been afraid of in my tiny snark, so I pushed off from the wind-protected dock with no motor running and the main already up. About 10 feet from the dock the wind caught the main and the boat heeled and picked up some speed. Problem #1: the main boom wouldnt swing in either direction. #2: I had trouble moving the tiller and it had little effect when it did move. What the devil was wrong with this boat?!! After a moment the boat is heeled 'way over(hadn't time to make sure the centerboard actually went down when i released the line-because it didn't), I'm pushing the tiller with one foot(while hanging on to the windward gunwhale ) to try to head into the wind, and with the other foot I'm kicking at the boom to try to make it move even a little. Everybody on the dock is(I was told later)wondering what I'm trying to do and I'm heading for the only rock visible on the far shore of the launching channel. I do finally ground the boat, having gone only in a somewhat straight line, having narrowly missed the big rock. The admiral was wisely still on the shore and asked my friend if it looked like I needed some help(of course his answer to her was "oh, he'll figure it out soon enough"). My real problem stemmed from asking rigging advice from someone who's heart was in the right place, but owned an entirely differently rigged boat. The primitive main sheet system was a triangle rig, and was rigged over the tiller, thus pinning it down and preventing any smooth running of the lines; the rudder was heavy, but usually needed a 'nudge' to drop down and be effective; the centerboard was on a simple pull/release line through the trunk and often hung up and needed to be pushed down with a finger to get it started. It'll get better and easier each time you use your boat - The picture looks like a Mac, even a 2.5 HP is not enough for anything over 18foot. My V21 has a 4HP that gets the job done but would have a tough time if wind, current and waves were ALL against her...
Well Jacques, You'll always remember your first sail and eventually your first and last sail of each season will be equally memorable if less eventful. My first sail (not counting my little snark) was also pretty interesting. On my first try with an O'day - like 17footer, I asked a more experienced sailor to help me rig the lines etc. It was relatively windy but nothing I would have been afraid of in my tiny snark, so I pushed off from the wind-protected dock with no motor running and the main already up. About 10 feet from the dock the wind caught the main and the boat heeled and picked up some speed. Problem #1: the main boom wouldnt swing in either direction. #2: I had trouble moving the tiller and it had little effect when it did move. What the devil was wrong with this boat?!! After a moment the boat is heeled 'way over(hadn't time to make sure the centerboard actually went down when i released the line-because it didn't), I'm pushing the tiller with one foot(while hanging on to the windward gunwhale ) to try to head into the wind, and with the other foot I'm kicking at the boom to try to make it move even a little. Everybody on the dock is(I was told later)wondering what I'm trying to do and I'm heading for the only rock visible on the far shore of the launching channel. I do finally ground the boat, having gone only in a somewhat straight line, having narrowly missed the big rock. The admiral was wisely still on the shore and asked my friend if it looked like I needed some help(of course his answer to her was "oh, he'll figure it out soon enough"). My real problem stemmed from asking rigging advice from someone who's heart was in the right place, but owned an entirely differently rigged boat. The primitive main sheet system was a triangle rig, and was rigged over the tiller, thus pinning it down and preventing any smooth running of the lines; the rudder was heavy, but usually needed a 'nudge' to drop down and be effective; the centerboard was on a simple pull/release line through the trunk and often hung up and needed to be pushed down with a finger to get it started. It'll get better and easier each time you use your boat - The picture looks like a Mac, even a 2.5 HP is not enough for anything over 18foot. My V21 has a 4HP that gets the job done but would have a tough time if wind, current and waves were ALL against her...
Ok, now......
.....you guys are way too nice on this board. I still have'nt been able to get the image of the ankor raping it's self out of my head. Ok, I'll be nice.
.....you guys are way too nice on this board. I still have'nt been able to get the image of the ankor raping it's self out of my head. Ok, I'll be nice.
I'm scared Daddy
The details of the day aren't important. But, I'll never forget the look on my daughter's face when she said "I'm scared Daddy!" the day I took her out on a 17' Daysailer when I should have left the boat in the driveway. A lot of things are funny about my sailing inexperience. That's not one of them.
The details of the day aren't important. But, I'll never forget the look on my daughter's face when she said "I'm scared Daddy!" the day I took her out on a 17' Daysailer when I should have left the boat in the driveway. A lot of things are funny about my sailing inexperience. That's not one of them.
My first sail
Like many before me, I bought my first boat without a clue about anything. Bought a how to sail book, and off we go. I have my two sons with me and we are actually sailing. Down the lake, really scooting along, wind almost dead astern, and having a ball. Then I realize that we are running out of lake, and the dam isn't far off. Don't have a clue what to do now, but I know I have to turn the boat, so over with the tiller, and you know what happened next. Right behind the tiller going over, the boom came over. Almost got my first born, and if he had been an inch taller, he would have been seriously hurt. The damage wasn't too bad, just ripped most of the slugs out of the sail. But that was a lesson learned the hard way, never to be forgotten. Bye the way, the anchor rode trapped hard against the keel has happened to me a couple of times, when the current was stong and the wind the other way. Best way I have found to solve this problem is to take all the extra anchor rode, and throw it over the side, ( make sure it is attached to something ) then release it off the cleat it is tied to. If you have enough extra rode, the rode will sink and clear the keel, before it gets tight again.
Like many before me, I bought my first boat without a clue about anything. Bought a how to sail book, and off we go. I have my two sons with me and we are actually sailing. Down the lake, really scooting along, wind almost dead astern, and having a ball. Then I realize that we are running out of lake, and the dam isn't far off. Don't have a clue what to do now, but I know I have to turn the boat, so over with the tiller, and you know what happened next. Right behind the tiller going over, the boom came over. Almost got my first born, and if he had been an inch taller, he would have been seriously hurt. The damage wasn't too bad, just ripped most of the slugs out of the sail. But that was a lesson learned the hard way, never to be forgotten. Bye the way, the anchor rode trapped hard against the keel has happened to me a couple of times, when the current was stong and the wind the other way. Best way I have found to solve this problem is to take all the extra anchor rode, and throw it over the side, ( make sure it is attached to something ) then release it off the cleat it is tied to. If you have enough extra rode, the rode will sink and clear the keel, before it gets tight again.
Too funny!
Oh Jacques, I had to stuff my fist in my mouth to keep from busting out laughing here at the office. Everyone would know I wasn't working. Actually, I loved everyone's stories. My first time sailing was with my husband, who had some Sunfish experience and our friend John, who had just bought a Starwind 22. I didn't want to get on the boat but they tricked me and the next thing I knew we were leaving the dock. After the sails were up, John handed me the tiller and pointed straight ahead and told me to go there. Then he and my husband went down into the cabin, congratulating themselves on getting me on the sailboat. Of course, I have no idea what I am doing so I end up jibing the boat, the boom swings across and the mainsheet block hanging from the end of the boom smacks me in the side of the head. I said some very unladylike things and they both apologized. No permenent damage done. The funny thing is I did end up falling in love with sailing that day. Later, while on a beam reach, John coaxed me into taking the tiller again. The boat heeled gently and I held firmly to the tiller and braced my feet against the cockpit seats. The wind blew and the sun shone and all of a sudden I could feel how the boat, the wind, the sails, the water and me were all connected. It was an amazing feeling and next to finding a pair of Manolo Blahniks at a garage sale, I had never felt more triumphant. After that I was hooked. I think the other funny time was the first time we flew a spinnaker on the Seidleman 24 that my husband and I had. Again, it is Jim, John and me. We get the chute up, we are flying down the lake, realize we are running out of lake. John looks at me and says "So, how do we get this thing down?" I looked at him and said "I thought you knew". About then one of our racing members pulled up alongside in his FIL's speed boat and asked how we were doing. We told him and when he stopped laughing, he hopped on our boat and showed us how to jibe and douse the chute. I'll never forget the look on John's face. It was priceless.
Oh Jacques, I had to stuff my fist in my mouth to keep from busting out laughing here at the office. Everyone would know I wasn't working. Actually, I loved everyone's stories. My first time sailing was with my husband, who had some Sunfish experience and our friend John, who had just bought a Starwind 22. I didn't want to get on the boat but they tricked me and the next thing I knew we were leaving the dock. After the sails were up, John handed me the tiller and pointed straight ahead and told me to go there. Then he and my husband went down into the cabin, congratulating themselves on getting me on the sailboat. Of course, I have no idea what I am doing so I end up jibing the boat, the boom swings across and the mainsheet block hanging from the end of the boom smacks me in the side of the head. I said some very unladylike things and they both apologized. No permenent damage done. The funny thing is I did end up falling in love with sailing that day. Later, while on a beam reach, John coaxed me into taking the tiller again. The boat heeled gently and I held firmly to the tiller and braced my feet against the cockpit seats. The wind blew and the sun shone and all of a sudden I could feel how the boat, the wind, the sails, the water and me were all connected. It was an amazing feeling and next to finding a pair of Manolo Blahniks at a garage sale, I had never felt more triumphant. After that I was hooked. I think the other funny time was the first time we flew a spinnaker on the Seidleman 24 that my husband and I had. Again, it is Jim, John and me. We get the chute up, we are flying down the lake, realize we are running out of lake. John looks at me and says "So, how do we get this thing down?" I looked at him and said "I thought you knew". About then one of our racing members pulled up alongside in his FIL's speed boat and asked how we were doing. We told him and when he stopped laughing, he hopped on our boat and showed us how to jibe and douse the chute. I'll never forget the look on John's face. It was priceless.
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